SEALS AND WHALES OF THE BRTTLSH SEAS. 117 



the dorsal fin was of a lightish grey, variegated with patches of both darker 



and whiter hue Behind the anterior edge of the dorsal fin the general 



colour of the surface, including the dorsal and caudal fins, was nearly black, 

 though with a large light patch on the upper part of the side directly above 

 the pudendal orifice. The middle of the belly as far back as the pudendal 

 orifice, was greyish white."* The most remarkable characteristic, however, 

 was the presence, scattered over the body, of irregular light streaks and spots ; 

 these markings extended from the head to within about two feet from the 

 tail ; and presented a most singular appearance. In the young one the upper 

 parts and sides of the body were almost black, and the lower parts nearly white, 

 the junction between the two colours being very abrupt and sharp. "On 

 each side of the body were six vertical whitish stripes nearly symmetrically 

 arranged, and almost equidistant, being about six inches apart. They did 

 not extend quite to the middle line of the body above, and were lost below in 

 the light colouring of the abdomen. "f The length of the Sidlesham male was 

 8 feet, that of the adult female 10 ft. 6 in. ; in the former there were present 

 four teeth on each side the lower jaw, in the latter three only on each side, 

 and in the immature specimen there were present seven teeth, four on the 

 right, and three on the left side ; the teeth are always placed in the front part 

 of the mandible, and in every specimen examined there has been an entire 

 absence of teeth in the upper jaw. In general appearance, Risso's Dolphin, 

 more particularly the dark-coloured specimens, is said very much to resemble 

 the next species {Globicephaliis melas). Of its habits and distribution nothing 

 positive is known, but from its visiting France and England in the spring or 

 summer, M. Fischer concludes that this species " is migratory, visiting the 

 shores of Europe in the summer, and passing in winter either to the south 

 towards the coast of Africa, or to the west towards the American Continent.":!: 



* Trans. Zool. Soc, vol. viii, p. 3. + /. c. p. 13. X i- c., p. 18. 



